When to Use Active Voice Instead of Passive Voice in Your Writing

Knowing when to use active voice instead of passive voice is important for clear and interesting writing. Let's break it down to help you choose the right voice for your writing.

Key Grammar Points

1. Verb Forms

In active voice, the subject does the action:

• Active voice: "The teacher explains the lesson."
• Passive voice: "The lesson is explained by the teacher."

Make sure to use the correct verb forms based on the time frame you’re writing in—past, present, or future. The verbs should match the subject in both voices.

2. Subject-Verb Agreement

The subject and verb need to match in number:

• Active voice: "The students study hard."
• Passive voice: "The assignments are studied by the students."

Active voice helps keep the subject and verb clear, making it easier for readers to understand.

3. Using Modal Verbs

Modal verbs add extra meaning. In active voice, they show who is taking action:

• Active voice: "She might finish the project on time."
• Passive voice: "The project might be finished on time by her."

Use active voice to highlight what the subject can or wants to do.

4. Active vs. Passive Voice

• When to use active voice:

  • To create stronger sentences.
  • To spotlight the doer (subject).
  • To make your writing clearer and shorter.

  Example: "The dog chased the cat."

• When to use passive voice:

  • When you don't know or don’t care about who is doing the action.
  • To focus on the action instead of the subject.

  Example: "The cat was chased by the dog."

5. Direct and Indirect Speech

Active voice works well with direct speech:

• Direct speech: "The coach said, 'I will train you.'"

In passive voice, it becomes less exciting:

• Indirect speech: "The coach said that you would be trained."

Conclusion

Using active voice makes your writing more direct and lively. By focusing on the subject and using clear verbs, you strengthen your sentences. This helps your audience understand your message better.